Illegal Call Center Busted in Siliguri’s Webel IT Park: Two Arrested in Joint Police Operation

KalimNews, Siliguri, November 6, 2024  : In a significant crackdown on cyber fraud, the Special Operations Group (SOG) and Matigara Police unearthed an illegal call center in Siliguri. Following a tip-off, the operation led to the arrest of two individuals, Ansar Ali (45), a resident of Topsia South 24 Parganas, and Saurabh Sahu (25) from the Tumbajote Pradhan Nagar area. The call center located and operating out of Webel IT Park, Phase-1,was engaged in fraudulent international scam activities, making scam calls abroad.

The operation took place on Tuesday when undercover officers, accompanied by the SOG, raided an office located on the first floor of Webel IT Park. The raid, which lasted for approximately seven hours, resulted in the seizure of multiple computers, CPUs, and crucial documents.

Police sources confirmed that the call center, operating under the name Unique Trade, was involved in making international scam calls to defraud people. These fraudulent activities included deceptive telemarketing and scams targeting individuals overseas. Both Ali and Sahu were arrested and taken to court in Siliguri on Wednesday for further legal proceedings. Police sources revealed that Ansar Ali, arrested during the raid had been hired just a month ago as the manager. This move was part of a strategy by the organization to frequently rotate managers and workers to avoid detection.

According to the police, the perpetrators initially recruited young workers and instructed them to make phone calls to potential victims. After establishing rapport, the workers obtained sensitive personal information from the individuals and lured them with promises of loans, job offers, and investment opportunities.

Victims were ultimately defrauded, with callers extracting money through these false promises. The authorities continue to investigate the operation, with two suspects arrested so far.

This latest raid highlights a growing concern over the presence of illegal call centers in Siliguri's Webel IT Park. Authorities have previously uncovered similar operations in the same location, signaling that the area has become a hotspot for cyber fraud activities. Both the SOG and Matigara Police have been active in addressing the rise of such illegal ventures, underscoring the ongoing battle against cybercrime in the region.

The police operation is being hailed as a success in combating online fraud, with authorities promising to continue their vigilance and proactive efforts to dismantle such illegal networks in the area.